Developer cartridge, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning member ( 16 ) for cleaning an open/close mechanism ( 14 ) for opening/closing a supply port ( 1 a ) of a toner cartridge ( 1 ) is moved in sync with operation of the open/close mechanism. The cleaning member ( 16 ) is in contact with the open/close mechanism ( 14 ) for scraping the toner from the outside surface of the open/close mechanism ( 14 ), thus preventing the toner from dirtying the unit, etc. when the toner cartridge ( 1 ) is removed.

1. A developer cartridge, comprising:
 a container for containing a developer; 
 an opening for supplying said developer from said container; 
 an open/close mechanism for opening/closing said opening; and 
 a notification member for notifying a cleaning member disposed outside the container for cleaning the open/close mechanism from outside of an open/close state of said open/close mechanism. 
 
   
   
     2. The developer cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said open/close mechanism comprises:
 an inner shutter rotatable within said developer cartridge and having an inner shutter opening at least a part of which overlaps said opening; and 
 an operation section linked to said inner shutter to rotate said inner shutter. 
 
   
   
     3. The developer cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein said operation section comprises:
 an operation lever operatable by an operator; and 
 a rotary member for transmitting an operation of said operation lever to said inner shutter. 
 
   
   
     4. The developer cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein said notification member is provided on said rotary member and movable in sync with rotation of said rotary member. 
   
   
     5. The developer cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein said notification member includes an engaging projection provided on said rotary member. 
   
   
     6. The developer cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said notification member notifies said cleaning member that said open/close mechanism is moving from an open state to a closed state. 
   
   
     7. The developer cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said notification member notifies the cleaning member of the open/close state of the open/close mechanism so that the cleaning member moves when the open/close mechanism moves. 
   
   
     8. An image forming unit in which a developer cartridge with an open/close mechanism for opening/closing an opening for supplying a developer is installed, comprising:
 a cleaning member provided so as to be contactable with an outside portion of said open/close mechanism; and 
 a moving mechanism for moving said cleaning member in contact with said outside portion. 
 
   
   
     9. The image forming unit according to  claim 8 , wherein said moving mechanism operates in sync with a state of said open/close mechanism of said developer cartridge. 
   
   
     10. The image forming unit according to  claim 9 , wherein said moving mechanism includes an engaging portion for engagement with said open/close mechanism of said developer cartridge. 
   
   
     11. The image forming unit according to  claim 10 , wherein said moving mechanism comprises:
 a movable plate for supporting said cleaning member and guided so as to slide along said outside portion; and 
 a link member rotatable on a body of said image forming unit and having one end for engagement with said movable plate to move it by rotation. 
 
   
   
     12. The image forming unit according to  claim 11 , wherein said link member has the other end engaged with said open/close mechanism for rotation in sync with operation of said open/close mechanism. 
   
   
     13. The image forming unit according to  claim 11 , wherein said link member has the other end for receiving a driving force for rotation. 
   
   
     14. An image forming apparatus from which a developer cartridge having an open/close mechanism for opening/closing an opening for supplying a developer is detachable, comprising:
 a cleaning member contactable with an outside portion of said open/close mechanism; 
 a moving mechanism for moving said cleaning member in contact with said outside portion; 
 a detector for detecting an open/close state of said open/close mechanism; and 
 an operation section in response to a detection result of said detector to operate said moving mechanism. 
 
   
   
     15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said detector comprises an engaging section for engaging with said open/close mechanism for detecting its operation and transmitting said operation to said moving mechanism, thereby operating said moving mechanism to operate said cleaning member. 
   
   
     16. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , which further comprises:
 a driving section for driving said moving mechanism; and 
 a control section in response to a detection result of said detector to operate said driving section and said cleaning member. 
 
   
   
     17. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein said moving mechanism comprises:
 a movable plate for supporting said cleaning member and guided so as to slide along said outside portion; and 
 a rotatable link member having one end engaging with said movable plate to move it by rotation, 
 said driving section engaging with the other end of said link member to operate said movable plate. 
 
   
   
     18. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said driving section includes a solenoid. 
   
   
     19. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , which further comprises:
 a compartment for holding a developer from said developer cartridge; and 
 a developer amount detector for detecting an amount of the developer within said compartment; 
 said control section being in response to a detection result of said developer amount detector to operate said driving section. 
 
   
   
     20. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 16 , which further comprises an operation section provided on a body of said image forming unit for operating said open/close mechanism, said detector detecting operation of said operation section. 
   
   
     21. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said control section responds to a detection result of said detector to operate said cleaning member.